At that moment, the Elder with curly hair furrowed his brows, saying with some unease, "Could this be another one of that guy's tricks?"
His words made the other four pause, their expressions turning hesitant. The excitement they'd felt moments ago faded, replaced by doubt.
They had no choice but to be cautious—that guy named Lin Xuan was just too cunning!
It was the same during the Summit War. He'd faked an attack on the holy land of Mariejois, forcing them to agree to humiliating terms like ceding Marineford and promising him 100 Devil Fruits!
Now, with Sabaody Archipelago seemingly defenseless, was it truly vulnerable, or was it a deliberate ploy to lure them in?
They couldn't help but suspect!
Thinking about it, the group's earlier enthusiasm cooled, and a chill of regret crept in.
On closer reflection, it was probably a trap set by Lin Xuan.
Otherwise, how else to explain the Ninja Guild attacking Impel Down without sealing off the news, but instead broadcasting their actions for all to see?
Those Ninja Guild folks weren't idiots. Without a specific purpose, why would they do something so contradictory?
If it were them, the first thing they'd do would be to lock down the information to prevent enemy reinforcements and minimize their losses!
That's right—that guy had deliberately let them know.
They'd figured out Lin Xuan's plan: he wanted to bait them into striking Sabaody Archipelago. If they mobilized, they'd likely walk right into an ambush the moment they arrived!
"What a sly bastard, full of dirty tricks. We almost fell for it!" the bald monk grumbled in frustration.
"He's a tough one to handle—one slip, and you're caught in his scheme," the one with the golden beard sighed lightly.
The one with the mustache turned to the long-bearded Elder and asked, "So what do we do now?"
The long-bearded Elder pondered in silence.
He mulled it over for a long time but couldn't decide.
He had no idea what Lin Xuan was really up to. Lin Xuan had seized the initiative, leaving them in a reactive position.
It was frustrating to be outmaneuvered!
After a while, he sighed and said, "The situation at Sabaody Archipelago is still unclear. Rushing in might indeed lead us into a trap."
"Besides, as you saw, Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, and Uchiha Obito weren't spotted in Impel Down. Are they hiding, or still at Sabaody? That's uncertain!"
He paused, then continued, "And don't forget, the Ninja Guild has ties to the Whitebeard Pirates and the Revolutionary Army."
"Also, Gol D. Roger, who appeared at Marineford last time—his whereabouts are unknown. He left Sabaody before, but is he really gone now?"
The long-bearded Elder took a deep breath and held up two fingers. "So, we have only two options: risk attacking Sabaody Archipelago or head to Impel Down for support!"
For a moment, the room fell silent.
The unknown was the greatest danger! With so many uncertain factors, they couldn't help but waver.
Attacking Sabaody might let them reclaim it and save face, but it could also end in an ambush.
Supporting Impel Down offered no guarantee of threatening Lin Xuan!
Still, if all five of them moved together, even toward Sabaody, they'd have a strong chance of success. But they worried Lin Xuan might actually attack Mariejois again—that guy had done it before!
"How about four of us go, and one stays to guard Mariejois?" the golden-bearded one suggested.
As they hesitated, a voice suddenly echoed in their ears: "Go ahead. I'll handle things here!"
The five were thrilled—Lord Imu had awakened!
With Lord Imu at Mariejois, they felt reassured. Even if Lin Xuan tried an assault, he'd never make it out!
At once, the five responded, "Yes, Lord Imu!"
The Five Elders were finally ready to strike.
This time, even if they couldn't seize back Sabaody, they'd destroy it and turn the Ninja Guild's so-called New World Government conference into a laughingstock for the whole world!
At Impel Down, the Gates of Justice.
Lin Xuan had no idea the Five Elders had set their sights on Sabaody Archipelago. After deploying his shadow clones throughout Impel Down for the live broadcast, he hadn't stayed inside but had come to the Gates of Justice ahead.
Lin Xuan stood atop the gates, gazing at the horizon with a smile. "As expected, those guys have finally arrived!"
In the distance, a massive fleet was speeding toward them across the sea, the World Government flags fluttering in the wind—it was undoubtedly their reinforcement troops.
Lin Xuan wasn't surprised at all. When he'd broadcasted the situation at Impel Down, he'd anticipated this, which was why he'd come here specifically to "welcome" them.
Spotting Kong and Sengoku on the deck, Lin Xuan's lips curved into a smirk. "It's time to show the real skills!"
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T/N:
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